Comprehensive Guide to Grades of Chain
The grade of a chain is a rating describing the metal tensile strength of a product. Metal tensile strength is the force any metal can withstand before warping or breaking. Understanding the uses and limits of each grade is essential in selecting which grade is right for your purpose. There are many different grades of chain, here we will go over the eight most commonly manufactured, ordered from their base materials.
Vocabulary:
(WLL) - Working Load Limit - the maximum weight or force that a piece of lifting equipment is designed to handle during use.
Design Factor - a numerical value used in engineering and design to ensure that a structure or component is designed to handle loads and stresses beyond its expected working load limit.
Stainless Steel Chain Grades:
G50 - 3:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A413)
(660lb-11,000lb) WLL
Constructed from high-quality stainless steel, G50 chain is ideal for use in marine, industrial, and outdoor applications where exposure to harsh environments, moisture, or chemicals is a concern. With a robust design, the G50 Chain delivers reliable performance for light-duty tasks, including cargo tie-downs, lifting, and rigging.Its corrosion-resistant properties make it especially suitable for marine environments or jobs requiring exposure to saltwater or harsh weather. Whether you're working in marine, industrial, or construction settings, the G50 Chain ensures strength, reliability, and long-lasting performance, in cases where high tensile chain isn't required. G50 chain is approved by OSHA for overhead lifting applications, although higher grade chain such as G80 is more often the better choice for its higher working load limit.
G63 - 3:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A413)
(1400lb-9200lb) WLL
G63 chain is unique as its high quality stainless steel makes it extremely resistant to rust, heat, and chemicals, making it a common choice for industrial food processing purposes. Given its higher tensile strength than G50 chain, G63 is more often used in heavy-duty marine applications, where G50 is used for everyday applications.
Carbon Steel Chain Grades:
G30 - 3:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A413)
(1,300lb-6,900lb) WLL
Also known as proof coil, G30 chain uses a low-strength carbon-steel. It's recommended as a general-purpose use chain, especially in cases where a high tensile strength isn't necessary. It is often used in agriculture, infrastructure as guard rails, and even in swing-sets. G30 chain is NOT rated for overhead lifting.
G43 - 3:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A413)
(2,600lb-13,000lb) WLL
Also known as high test chain, G43 is made of carbon-steel. It is is a versatile and durable solution for medium-duty applications. Made from carbon steel, this chain offers good strength and wear resistance, with a working load limit that suits a wide range of tasks such as tie-downs, logging, towing, and general industrial use. Its higher tensile strength compared to g30 chains makes it it a better choice for securing loads, although at least G70 is generally recommended for commercial cargo tie-downs. G43 is commonly used in agriculture towing, logging, and trucking. G43 chain is NOT rated for overhead lifting.
G70 - 4:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A413)
(3,150lb-15,800lb) WLL
Also known as transport chain, G70 chain is made of the highest strength carbon-steel. G70 chain is heat-treated during it's manufacturing process to give it the highest tensile strength of any carbon-steel chain. G70 is the go-to choice for truckers, loggers, securing large cargo, and the rest of the transportation industry.
G70 Chain offers both durability and longevity in harsh environments. It meets rigorous safety standards and DOT regulations for transport chains, ensuring reliable performance on the road or in the field. Whether you're securing loads on a flatbed truck or handling heavy-duty industrial tasks, G70 Chain often provides the strength required for the job. However, like other carbon steel graded chain, G70chain is NOT rated for overhead lifting.
Alloy Steel Chains
G80 4:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A391)
(3,500lb-18,100lb) WLL
G80 and G100 strength chain are well-suited for heavy-duty towing and transportation needs. They are both made with high-tensile strength alloy steel and are recommended over G70 chains in heavy-duty uses. G80 chain is heat treated and tempered in its manufacturing process which makes it extremely well suited for high-temperature applications, even beating G100 chain in heat resistance. G80 chain is extremely versatile as it is rated to work for any rigging application that requires at least G30 chain, while also being rated for use in overhead lifting, as well as high temperature uses. G80 is recommended for overhead lifting by NACM, OSHA and ASME.
G100 - 4:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A973)
(4,300lb-22,600lb) WLL
G100 is an alloy steel chain well suited for use in heavy-duty rigging and transportation. Crafted from high-grade, heat-treated alloy steel, this chain offers a remarkable increase in tensile strength and working load limit, making it ideal for extreme heavy-duty tasks such as overhead lifting, crane operations, and material handling in construction, mining, and industrial environments.
With its increased load capacity compared to lower-grade chains, G100 Chain enables operators to use lighter chain sizes without sacrificing safety or performance. The chain is coated with a corrosion-resistant finish, ensuring durability and long-lasting reliability in tough and harsh conditions. Meeting stringent international safety standards, including OSHA and EN regulations, G100 chain is trusted for its superior strength, safety, and precision in most critical lifting and rigging tasks.
G120 - 6:1 design factor (ASTM Spec A413)
(5,200lb-27,500lb WLL)
G120 chain is the strongest chain in the industry, offering 50% more strength than G80, and 20% more strength than g100. Its unique profile increases strength, abrasion resistance and bending at a lower weight. Recommended for overhead lifting in rough industrial conditions. Although stronger than any other, G120 isn't as common as the lower chain grades, as most uses are already covered by the lower grades. G120 chain is used in extremely heavy duty lifting applications.
Choosing the right chain of grade for your use is dependent on the unique properties that each chain has. From trucking, food-processing, marine applications, and heavy-duty rigging, to find the right chain for your desired application, start here, at Go-Tow.com